In your opinion, is three months enough to prepare for Traditional (State) OCS?

Cpl Joseph Fields — Wed, 06 Mar 2019 21:52:39 -0500

I'm just now picking back up my workout routine after tweaking my knee last month, thus only leaving me with three months until the start of my state's Traditional OCS. I feel like I should be able to get up to speed, but figured I would get the opinion of others who have completed the program.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 6 at 2019 9:57 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 06 Mar 2019 21:57:20 -0500

If you are in reasonable shape, 3 months is adequate. IMHO.

Response by LTC Trent Klug made Mar 6 at 2019 9:57 PM

LTC Trent Klug — Wed, 06 Mar 2019 21:57:30 -0500

So I take it your state doesn't do a Phase 0? If they don't you should be fine, but I would get your knee thoroughly checked by your doctor. Phase 1, while not as hard as boot camp, is still somewhat physically demanding because you get 10 pounds of crap stuffed in a five pound bag. Phase 2, even though its at home state, has a few events that will tax your knee (road marches, field exercises and APFT). Better to play it safe than sorry later.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 6 at 2019 10:01 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 06 Mar 2019 22:01:51 -0500

You will do fine! State OCS is no Crucible! You're only running 2 miles instead of three. The Army Reserve in the National Guard are probably going to be the same that even though they're coming out with the new Army Combat fitness test, it's only going to be for Diagnostic while it's your regular outgoing Army APFT is going to be the norm. Push-ups, sit-ups and a 2-mile run. What I was younger, I was just try to do 80 pushups wait 5 minutes do 40 more. Do 80 sit-ups after a five-minute break. Then give yourself a few more minutes and then do another 40. Then go do your 2 Mile Run for time on the track. You know that the track is going to be a little harder than and open course so you will probably get a better time in reality especially with others around you. Then you can go hit the gym like you want to. You could mix up your runs with three or four mile run doing a speed play or fartlek. Since you are a prior service Marine, you are used to running 3 miles or more. When I went through OCS, I just went through enlisted basic training a year-and-a-half before that. I didn't really prepare for it at all and I graduated. I was the oldest enlisted person to graduate from MP School. I was one of the older person to graduate from State OCS. This was California OCS. Hopefully there are others here who can give some input. Remember, cooperate and graduate and never give up but you are a prior service Marine so you will not give up!

Response by MAJ Byron Oyler made Mar 7 at 2019 10:26 PM

MAJ Byron Oyler — Thu, 07 Mar 2019 22:26:23 -0500

Your biggest issue will be push ups. I think pull ups are harder yet many former marines have issues with push ups.

Response by CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 16 at 2019 2:32 PM

CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 16 Mar 2019 14:32:12 -0400

If it's anything like a time OCS, then absolutely. There's nothing extraordinarily difficult about OCS physically. It's getting easier by the year too.